Golf game equipment

ABSTRACT

A plurality of simulated cups are placed over an area and spaced away from one another in some desired pattern. A conventional club is used to putt and chip a golf ball successively from cup to cup. A plurality of ball directors are placed respectively adjacent the cups. The directors are numbered successively and are pointed toward the next cup to receive the ball. Each cup includes a deformable, non-elastic pad in the form of fabric tubes sewed together and filled with sand to minimize the possibility of ball jump out. Each cup is formed in a frustoconical shape and the upper surface of the cup includes a plastic layer simulating close-cropped grass.

Waite States tet H 1 (Iassel [451 Aug. 14, 1973 GOLF GAME EQUIPMENT [22] Filed: Apr. 12, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 243,338

[52] 11.8. C1 .273/176 13, 273/178 R [51] Int. Cl. A63b 67/02, A63b 57/00 [58] Field of Search 273/176, 177, 178, 273/179, 180, 34

[56] References Cited 1 UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,063,119 5/1913 Clifi'ord 273/180 X 1,287,903 12/1918 Daily 273/178 R 1,513,978 11/1924 Flynn et a1. 273/178 B 2,460,080 H1949 Gerding 273/180 2,836,422 5 /1958 Borah 273/178 A 3,467,388 9/1969 Weiler 273/178 R X Primary Examiner-George J. Marlo Attorney-Frederick J. Olsson ABSTRACT A plurality of simulated cups are placed over an area and spaced away from one another in some desired pattern. A conventional club is used to putt and chip a golf ball successively from cup to cup. A plurality of ball directors are placed respectively adjacent the cups. The directors are numbered successively and are pointed toward the next cup to receive the ball. Each cup includes a deformable, non-elastic pad in the form of fabric tubes sewed together and filled with sand to minimize the possibility of ball jump out. Each cup is formed in a frusto-conical shape and the upper surface of the cup includes a plastic layer simulating closecropped grass.

5 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PAIENTEU Alli 14 I073 SHEU 2 0F 2 GOLF GAME EQUIPMENT This invention relates to games of skill and in particular relates to equipment for playing a golf game.

The equipment of the invention is especially adapted for a game using conventional clubs for putting a ball and for combined chipping and putting.

The invention contemplates equipment including a plurality of simulated cups which are placed on an indoor or on an outdoor surface in some desired pattern.

A golf club is used to move the ball successively from cup to cup. The location-of each successive cup to which the ball is to be moved is indicated by director means.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide equipment for a golf game of the kind mentioned which can be set up, alternatively, on an indoor or on'an outdoor surface .without modification.

Another object of the invention is to provide equipment for a golf game of the kind mentioned which can be played by any number of players operating as an individuals or in groups.

Another object of the invention is to provide equip- 'ment for use with conventional golf clubs and balls which can be used indoors and outdoors and in either place provides a means for the player to practice and thereby promote his skills in putting and chipping.

Another object of the invention is to provide equipment for an indoor golf game which is light in weight, easy to handle and will not damage the carpet or other indoor floor covering. g y

Another object of the invention is to provide equipment of the kind in question which is easily stored when not in use.

Another object of the invention is to provide equipmentof the kind in question which is relatively simple in construction, comprised of a minimum number of parts, economical to manufacture and is efficient in intended function.

Other objects of the invention and various advantages thereof will readily be apparent to those skilled in the art by reference to the following specification, considered in conjunction with the'accompanying drawings forming a part thereof and it is to be understood modifications may be made in the structural details, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of equipment of the invention placed on an outdoor grass surface;

FIG. 2 is a view taken along the lines 2-2 of FIG. 1 and illustrates a receptacle or simulated cup of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a deformable, nonelastic pad used on the bottom of a cup;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a director of the invention set up for use on an indoor surface; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the bottom part of the director of FIG. 4 and illustrating how the director is set up for use on an outdoor surface. v

In thefollowing description it is to be observed that the word move, as applied to a golf ball, refers to.a conventional golf ball which is either putted or chipped by the player using a conventional club.

'In FIG. 1 an outdoor grass surface is indicated'by G. A plurality of receptacles or cups l-C, 2-C, 3-C for receiving golf balls are independently placed on the grass surface. Each cup occupies a spaced-away position relative to the other cups. The golf ball is moved successively from one cup to another and for this purpose the cups may be set up in any desired pattern. For example, the locus of the cups may form an anulus orthe cups may be set in a random pattern as is the case depicted in FIG. 1. Ordinarily, nine cups are provided and the ball is moved toward the first cup and then on successively to the others.

For indicating the start of the ball-moving sequence and for indicating direction between cups, the invention provides a plurality of directors T-l, T-2, T-3 which are: set up adjacent to the cups. The directors simulatethe tees of a conventional golf course.

The director or tee T-l indicates the start of the game. The golf ball 4 is placed. near the tee T-] and moved toward the cup C-l, the ball is then placed near the tee T-2 and moved toward cup C-2, and then placed near the tee T-3 and moved toward the cup C-3.

Thissequence is repeated until the nine hole course has been manuvered.

For a game involving putting only, the cups are set up between l0 and 20 feet from the tee. It is preferable to set some of the cups at the minimum distances and others at intermediate distances. For a chipping and putting game thecups are set 40 to 60 feet from the tee, being set at the minimum, maximum and intermediate distances.

It will be understood that several individuals may traverse the course one after another or the persons may be grouped and traverse the course together matching theputting and/or chipping skills at each of the holes.

The preferred structure of the cups and directors will be described following.

The receptacles or cups are allidentical in structure. With particular reference to FIG. 2 the cup O1 includes a base 1 which is placed on a surface such as the grass surface G. The base has a hollow, frusto-conical shape so that when placed on the surface the base tapers upwardly toward the raised section 2. The raised center section 2 has a hole 3. The raised condition and the hole constitute a cup for receiving the golf ball indicated by the dot-dash line 4.

The ball is moved into the cup as by the ball being struck hard enough so that it rolls up over the outer inclined surface. The outer inclined surface of the base has means configured to permit a golf ball to roll. Preferably such means comprises conventional artificial turf made of plastic which is arranged to simulate closecropped grass much as is found on a regular golf green. In FIG. 2'the simulated grass is indicated at 5.

If desired,.the underside of the base may be provided with prongs for use out-of-doors. These prongs stick into the ground andhelp retain the cup in fixed position. Preferably three prongs are used such as the prongs 6. For indoor use, the prongs can be bent up underthe .base such asindicated by the dotted lines 6a.

Since thedepth of a hole is relatively shallow, ordi- The pad is preferably constructed as by two layers of fabric sewed together to make a plurality of tubular sections 11 which are filled with common fine sand. Conventional sewing techniques are used in the fabrication of the pad.

The fabric and tubular construction as described is preferred because it tends to maintain fairly constant depth to the hole even when repeatedly struck by golf balls and avoids the player having to even-out the pad after playing the hole. Also, the pad readily deforms by the impact of the ball and thus enhances the energy absorbing function.

The directors or tees all have identical construction and this will be explained in connection with FIGS. 4 and 5. The director T-1 has a shaft 13 which carries a director head 14. The head is preferably shaped in the form of an arrow. Also the head is provided with a number, the various heads having numbers 1 thru 9. The reason for the arrow shape and the numbering is that each head is pointed to the next succeeding cup. This avoids mistake as to where the ball is to be struck. This is particularly important where players are competing against each other. The director also includes a support means which adapts the director to be placed alternatively on an indoor or on an outdoor surface. For the outdoor surface, the support comprises a pointed area 15 on the end of the shaft which can be pushed into the ground (FIG. and support the shaft in a generally vertical direction. For indoor use, the support includes the block 20 (FIG. 4) having the aperture 21 which can received the pointed end and hold the shaft in a generally upright position. While the block is primarily for an indoor surface it can be used on an outdoor surface, where the same will not accept the pointed end 15.

I claim:

1. Game implements to be used in combination with each other and with a golf club and a golf ball comprising in combination:

a plurality of receptacles each receptacle being independently placeable in spaced-away position relative to any other receptacle on an indoor surface or on an outdoor surface and each receptacle having a base to be placed on such surface formed in a frusto-conical shape so that when placed on such surface the base tapers upwardly toward the center section and the center section being formed with a hole, the raised center and hole constituting a cup to receive a golf ball and means on the exterior of the base configured to permit a golf ball to roll over the same; a plurality of deformable, non-elastic pads, the pads being respectively placeable on the surface on which a receptacle is placed within the area encompassed by the center section to form a bottom for the cup, the deformable, non-elastic characteristic of a pad absorbing the energy of a ball entering the cup and thereby functioning to retain the ball in the cup; and

plurality of directors including support means adapting its director alternatively to be placed on an indoor surface or on an outdoor surface, each director including a shaft connected with the support means and an arrow-shaped head on the shaft, the directors being independently placeable adjacent a receptacle on a surface with its head pointed toward a spaced-away receptacle whereby the director simulates a tee.

2. A construction in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means on the exterior of the base is made of plastic simulating a close-cropped grass surface.

3. A construction in accordance with claim 1 wherein said deformable, non-elastic pad is made of two layers of fabric sewed together to form a plurality of hollow tubes each filled with sand.

4. A construction in accordance with claim 1 wherein said support means is formed as by a pointed area on the end of a shaft for insertion in the ground whereby the shaft is supported upright and a block to be placed on a surface and having an aperture to receive said point whereby to support the shaft upright.

5. A construction in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means on the exterior of the base is made of plastic simulating close-crop grass surface and each said nonelastic pad is made of two layers of fabric sewed together to form a plurality of hollow tubes, each tube being filled with sand and said support means is formed as by a pointed area on the end of a shaft for insertion in the ground whereby the shaft is supported upright and a block to be placed on a surface and having an aperture to receive said point whereby to support the shaft in an upright position. 

1. Game implements to be used in combination with each other and with a golf club and a golf ball comprising in combination: a plurality of receptacles each receptacle being independently placeable in spaced-away position relative to any other receptacle on an indoor surface or on an outdoor surface and each receptacle having a base to be placed on such surface formed in a frusto-conical shape so that when placed on such surface the base tapers upwardly toward the center section and the center section being formed with a hole, the raised center and hole constituting a cup to receive a golf ball and means on the exterior of the base configured to permit a golf ball to roll over the same; a plurality of deformable, non-elastic pads, the pads being respectively placeable on the surface on which a receptacle is placed within the area encompassed by the center section to form a bottom for the cup, the deformable, non-elastic characteristic of a pad absorbing the energy of a ball entering the cup and thereby functioning to retain the ball in the cup; and a plurality of directors including support means adapting its director alternatively to be placed on an indoor surface or on an outdoor surface, each director including a shaft connected with the support means and an arrow-shaped head on the shaft, the directors being independently placeable adjacent a receptacle on a surface with its head pointed toward a spacedaway receptacle whereby the director simulates a tee.
 2. A construction in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means on the exterior of the base is made of plastic simulating a close-cropped grass surface.
 3. A construction in accordance with claim 1 wherein said deformable, non-elastic pad is made of two layers of fabric sewed together to form a plurality of hollow tubes each filled with sand.
 4. A construction in accordance with claim 1 wherein said support means is formed as by a pointed area on the end of a shaft for insertion in the ground whereby the shaft is supported upright and a block to be placed on a surface and having an aperture to receive said point whereby to support the shaft upright.
 5. A construction in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means on the exterior of the base is made of plastic simulating close-crop grass surface and each said non-elastic pad is made of two layers of fabric sewed together to form a plurality of hollow tubes, each tube being filled with sand and said support means is formed as by a pointed area on the end of a shaft for insertion in the ground whereby the shaft is supported upright and a block to be placed on a surface and having an aperture to receive said point whereby to support the shaft in an upright position. 